At the solution of scientific and production tasks it is very important to use system approach. Consideration of a problem through a prism of the relations between elements of a system allows to reveal a chain of the cause and effect dependences which are not allowing to reach maximum efficiency. One of methods of the analysis of systems – creation of the chart of Isikava.
Isikava's method as tool of the system analysis
The graphic method which received the name of the chart of Isikava helps to analyze and form significant relationships of cause and effect. Such tool of the analysis of systems on appearance resembles a fish bone. At the scheme by all means there is a central horizontally located axis and the "edges" departing from it.
The Japanese professor Isikava thought up the chart in the middle of the last century when he strongly looked for ways for identification of the reasons of the problems arising in scientific and applied researches. The scientist wanted to develop a method of the system analysis, suitable for the use, which would be evident representation of the problems which are available in a system.
The technique offered by Isikava gives the chance to divide the reasons of any given phenomenon into several groups. For example, consideration consistently turns on machines and mechanisms, production methods, materials, the external environment. Any of these groups may contain the causes of undesirable effects. Each of such reasons can be spread out if desired to smaller system elements, having deepened the analysis.
Areas of application of the chart of Isikava
Isikava's technique almost right after publication found broad application in production management where it began to be used for the analysis of quality of products and the solution of complex production problems. Today Isikava's chart is widely used around the world including in the theory of invention where with its help establish the causes of technical contradictions. The main scope of a method of Isikava – the system analysis for the purpose of identification of immediate causes of emergence of the existing problem. The chart with success can be used for the step-by-step analysis of production and marketing processes at the enterprise, their systematization and structuring. Recently the technique finds more and more broad application when carrying out "brainstorming".
How to construct Isikava's chart
In the beginning the researcher clears up for himself a problem, its essence and complexity. After that the starting point of the analysis which has an appearance of the horizontal arrow directed to the right is under construction. On an edge of an arrow there is accurately outlined and clearly a formulated problem. To the center line under some corner additional arrows are added, each of which designates one of the possible reasons which caused emergence of a problem. If during the analysis it becomes clear that the reasons are in turn caused by deeper factors, each of arrows can branch. Having constructed the developed graphic display of relationships of cause and effect, it is possible to imagine visually all system in dynamics of causes and effects affecting, for example, result of production activity or on management of the enterprise. Very much often such instrument of visualization helps to reveal significant factors which at a different way of the analysis escape from attention.